Why elections are bad for democracy
From The Intelligent Optimist Magazine Fall/Winter 2016 Our voting system worked well for decades, but now it is broken. It brings forward the wrong people (Donald Trump) and it leads to bad decisions (Brexit). There is a better way to give voice to the people. By David Van Read More...
Possibility: The justice of the crowd
From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 In recent years, crowdfunding has become a popular tool to fund projects and interests shared by groups of people. It is particularly common in arts and culture, leaving it up to the audience to determine what gets done and what they want to see. A British Read More...
Possibility: Keeping refugees afloat
From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 A quarter of a million. That’s the number of immigrants and asylum seekers who have already tried to get to Europe in 2015 by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the highest number on record, according to the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees. Thousands Read More...
Bilquis and Abdul Sattar Edhi: Promoting social justice in Pakistan
Salman Ahmad, former lead singer of the Pakistani-American rock group Junoon, says Bilquis and Abdul Sattar Edhi should be recognized for their work helping suffering Pakistanis. Salman Ahmad | Jan/Feb 2009 issue Bilquis and Abdul Sattar Edhi are an extraordinary couple that has provided millions Read More...
The subversive art of Zhimin
Artist Zhimin "Mona" Tang is seen as a threat by China Najiba Abdellaoui | April 2006 Read More...
Real people building a better world
A new generation of social leaders is rising up. These are people who dedicate their creativity and passion for a better world. They are able to do this because changing political realities around the world have created new opportunities for citizen involvement. As 'social entrepreneurs', they find Read More...
Africa awakening
In Zimbabwe, Marianne Knuth helps local people draw on the wisdom and talent of each other to solve problems big and small. Marco Visscher | June 2004 issue WHO? Marianne Knuth WHAT? Kufunda Village, a ‘learning community’ for self-support WHERE? Kufunda, Zimbabwe WHEN? 2001 WHY? To Read More...
Any day without a new idea is a day lost
Ervin Laszlo was a child prodigy at the piano who became a professor without finishing school. The former systems theory pioneer is now concentrating on research into the information field, which should not only shed light on inexplicable connections between man and matter, but may help create a Read More...
Cricket in the ghetto
Ted Hayes wondered what would keep young people in one of America's most violent ghettos away from drugs and crime? Cricket of course! Jay Walljasper | June 2004 issue WHO? Ted Hayes WHAT? Compton Cricket Club, for young people from the ghetto WHERE? Compton, California, United States WHEN? Read More...
Everyone's reading in South Africa
Beulah Thumbadoo believes a simple solution can help her country's complicated problems: reading more books. Tijn Touber | June 2004 issue WHO? Beulah Thumbadoo WHAT? ERA, Everyone’s Reading in Africa WHERE? South Africa WHEN? 1991 WHY? A country can only develop when books are widely Read More...